Rockford’s downtown revitalization process took another step last week when the City Council approved plans to rebuild the former Ingersoll building into a downtown sports complex and agreed to purchase adjacent property for parking.

It’s all part of the Reclaiming First plan to turn the Ingersoll building into a facility that could host basketball, volleyball and other tournaments and events. Reclaiming First also would make Sportscore Two in Loves Park a sports complex with additional soccer fields and softball fields.

But it’s the Ingersoll project that alderman approved on a resounding 10-3 vote. Even Linda McNeely, infamous for her no votes on many issues, voted yes. She was a good sport about it, turning to Register Star reporter Kevin Haas and saying “Mr. Haas, you might want to make a comment on the front page that Ald. McNeely is voting yes.”

It drew a laugh and a short applause from the council and a few in the gallery.

The Ingersoll piece of Reclaiming First is especially important. It turns a valuable piece of city-owned property into an asset. It makes a building that has been mostly vacant since 2002 into a thriving facility. It makes use of the Rock River, perhaps the city’s most overutilized asset.

Without the Ingersoll revamp, the plan to turn the Amerock/Ziock building across the river into a hotel and convention center probably would die. Without the Amerock project, other downtown development would cease.

Rockford has been a leader in sports tourism for decades and that has helped the local economy. Sports tourism adds about $15.25 million annually to the local economy. It puts $1.85 million of taxes into local governments and adds the equivalent of 226 full-time jobs. Reclaiming First will build on that.

Also last week, Rockford Park District commissioners voted unanimously to approve the financial plan for Reclaiming First.

The Park District, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Buckley Cos. created this plan. We first heard about it in December of 2011 and have watched as each step has been take, each hurdle cleared as the dream of a downtown sports complex comes closer to reality.

Way to go Jake: Congratulations to Boylan grad Jake Smolinski, who made his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers last week. Smolinski is the first NIC-10 position player in the major leagues in 70 years. Smolinski was the NIC-10 Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2007 and was selected in the second round of Major League Baseball’s draft. We wish Smolinski well as his baseball career continues.

Facilities plan: Rockford School Board members got an overview of district’s facilities plan Tuesday. The $250 million plan involves closing eight schools and building two, reducing the elementary and early-childhood footprint from 35 schools to 29. Every school will be improved over the life of the plan.

Page 2 of 2 - There will be an informational meeting for the public at 6 p.m. July 22 at the Rockford School District’s administrative offices, 501 Seventh St. The School Board is expected to vote on the facilities plan Aug. 12.

The goal of the facilities plan is to create teaching and learning environments that meet the needs of all students. Improving facilities and creating efficient classroom space are good things. The district also needs to address what goes on inside those classrooms, i.e., do teachers have the tools they need for a 21st century learning environment.

We talk a lot about transformation. Nothing transforms a community more than an excellent education system. New and improved facilities are just a start.